Sabbath Delights: Then it's easy.

Our home kitchen table is a generous host. It graciously welcomes paint stains, nail polish remover (sorry mom), messy spaghetti dinners, melted wax from birthday cakes, and all without a single complaint. It has also served as a backdrop to countless math study sessions. Nearly every evening in high school our kitchen table provided me a place to sprawl out all of my textbooks and crumpled papers. A busy dance schedule meant I usually didn't begin homework until nine p.m. or later. But no matter how late I struggled through math questions, my Dad always sat right next to me. Willing and anxious to help. Without a single complaint. 

Thanks to my brilliant father, I sure memorized a lot of equations, formulas and theories at that kitchen table. But to be perfectly honest, I don't remember hardly any of them ('hardly' is a bit generous...). There some lessons from those study session, however, I that I don't think I'll ever forget. One instance in particular has been flashing in my mind the past few days. 

One night, in my frustration over some math concept, I yelled out, "Dad this is too hard! I can't do it!" My Dad, in his ever mild-tempered manner, just said, "Emily, it is only hard until you understand. Then it's easy." I just kinda went, 'Oh duh.' Once I could understand the equations then all the problems became easy. 

Want to know why that conversation has stuck with me? Me too :) Lately, I think it's because his advice doesn't just apply to math problems. The application can be much more difficult, but it's still true. 

Brigham Young, second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, once said:

"Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation.

'Necessary'--that is a bold statement. But I also find it immensely comforting. Believing that all the unfair, painful and frustrating things are in actuality preparing us for salvation is precious. God doesn't give us hardship without divine reasoning. He wants to mold us into the best, highest, happiest versions of ourselves. Some things we may understand now, and some not until the next life, but it will all make sense someday. In the meantime we can find peace. My Dad's method for math homework is helpful in that regard: find the right equation (prayerfully try and see how this may refine you), then plug and chug the numbers (endure with hope) until you reach an answer.

good night friends :)

Sabbath Delights: There is always a fresh page.

Sweet peace. That is what filled my heart during the last hour of Relief Society today. We were discussing the renewal of life that the Savior offers us every week through the sacrament. Flipping through my journal during the lesson and I found this entry that I'd like to share. I testify that the hope I mention is possible because of the sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ.

~August 26, 2016~

Here we are on the last day of summer. It really does feel as if the words are already written on these pages before I get to them. But they are not really. Which pages will be scribbles of barely contained excitement, and which of methodical exploration of thought? Will a tear mar a corner or will ticket stub fill the page? What new names will be introduced, and which will stop appearing? Are there opportunities and changes that I cannot now expect resting between the trees? Probably. Frustrations, joys, boredoms, new ideas, confusion, discovery; all of it awaits is place on a line.

But the joy in all of that comes from hope. Hope that whatever words become appropriate to detail my life, there is always a fresh page with new words. Another day, another change, another realization. The ferocity of my strokes doesn't stay constant for very long. These days keep on surprising me and giving way to prose I never intended. And then at my man-made turning points, I read over the words as they sit in past, unchanging but not without life. They still hold the feeling, the sights, the whole significance of that day. My feelings remain very much alive on the paper. How true was Lewis when he said,

'Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different.'

Sabbath Delights: Reaching my reaches

Sacrament meeting may very well be my favorite hour of the week. I really mean that. Today was especially sweet. My reachings were reached, if you know what I mean. The questions, concerns, and problems that had made a home in my head were touched and calmed. The things so far back that I had forgotten that they are not permanent residents, but learning experiences making their way through were hurried along. When our hearts are prepared, the sacrament ordinance has the same feeling of peace as the temple.

That preparation is what I would like to touch on briefly here today. The last speaker in sacrament meeting had some beautiful thoughts on the matter that really spoke true to me. His overall point was this: The Sabbath is a delight when we have revelatory experiences. In order to have revelatory experiences, we need to prepare ourselves spiritually. I can testify to that sincerely. Feeling close to God is the greatest delight you will ever have in your life. Here is small list of ideas for being prepared for Sunday:

•  Don't stay up too late on Saturday, even if you have one o'clock church. Being able to wake up comfortably and having a calm morning is important. Give yourself time to eat a solid breakfast and pray sincerely.
• Think over the week before you get to church. This was something I hadn't though of before. Examine yourself over the past few days and see where you need to pray for forgiveness and strength. Doing this ahead of time will keep you more focused during the meeting.
• Pray, pray, pray. Give your full heart into the prayer given over the pulpit. Be apart of that supplication to Heavenly Father.
• Turn your phone on airplane mode. Yep, do it before you get to church. That way you can still use your scriptures without the distraction of emails and notifications.

I know, that really is short list. But I can testify that if you will ponder over how to be prepared for Sunday you will know what to do. Your reachings can be reached.

Thanks for reading this, consider yourself loved.

Sabbath Delights: He wanted to be.

"It is important to remember that Jesus was capable of sinning, that he could have succumbed, that the plan of life and salvation could have been foiled, but that he remained true. Had there been no possibility of his yielding to the enticement of Satan, there would have been no real test, no genuine victory in the result...He was perfect and sinless, not because he had to be, but rather because he clearly and determinedly wanted to be." ~Howard W. Hunter

This quote was actually first brought to my attention in Institute up at school this week. I loved it. I read it again during sacrament meeting and shared it with my family members. When we speak of the Savior's perfect, sinless life do we remember that it was possible for him to sin? Jesus was not stripped of his agency during his mortal journey. He could have succumbed. But the glorious fact is that he did not. The temptations Jesus overcame were more ferocious and relentless than anything we will ever face. But our older brother did not let us down. I love what President Hunter goes on to say, "We should take strength for this battle from the fact that Christ was victorious not as a God but as a man."

Because that, he knows how to succor us as man. I believe that to be true.